The House Directory

Can you help me find a supplier to make a petrified wood dining table base?

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:50:23 +0000

Vineworks are bespoke manufacturers who specialise in table and lamp bases made from ancient vine wood and olive root. They say they can help with your enquiry for a petrified wood table base.

I am looking for an ancient Hunting MacRae tartan plaid. Do you know of a source for high quality fabric?

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:37:51 +0000

James Hare, a very fine manufacturer of silks, has a Hunting MacRae tartan which would be ideal.

Can you help me find traditional table and floor lamps that don’t look like reading lights yet have 100 watt capacity to give good light for reading?

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:12:08 +0000

Phillips & Wood suggest that a 60 watt bulb should be more than sufficient for a reading light. With a traditional 100 watt bulb heat can build up and damage the bulb holder or, depending on the size and finish, damage the lampshade. (Image: Vaughan Designs)

Jim Lawrence confirmed that a higher watt bulb could be a problem but you can get around this by using a low energy, cool equivalent, like a compact florescent or led lamp.

For an excellent selection of light bulbs which would provide the strength of light without the heat, speak to the experts at Electricpoint.

We also asked Lucy Vaughan about using an double lamp holder to hold two 40w or 60w bulbs and she said that, ”We can wire most of our table lamps (not candlesticks) to take ‘S-fittings’ with two bulbs, at a charge of £70 per lamp,but you would still run the risk of burning the lampshade. Anyway 100 watt bulbs are now unavailable!”

Companies that have an excellent range of traditional lighting include:

Altfield , Joanna Wallis, Clare Mosley, Collier Webb, Vaughan , Soane

Can you help me find sheets for a Tempur-Pedic mattress? I have brought Tempur sheets back from the US, but I can’t find them here.

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:06:08 +0000

Feather & Black, who supply Tempur beds, confirm that they do not sell special sheets branded by Tempur, as any of their sheets which will fit a Tempur mattress. They do, however, sell Tempur mattress protectors.

I’m trying to find a modern console table to go over a radiator in our hall. I have found one which is a possibility from Phillipe Hurel. Do you have any other suggestions?

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:04:21 +0000

Regarding your console table, timber might be a problem if exposed to the heat of the radiator. Companies listed on our website which also have great looking console tables in their range, along with Philippe Hurel, include Chaplins, Cox London, Poliform, Tom Faulkner, Vaughan and Richard Taylor Designs. Alternatively, a pair of decorative brackets with a marble shelf can be a good solution over a radiator.

I am redesigning a kitchen and I would like to find vintage kitchen taps and a large butcher’s block to sit on the worktop. Can you help?

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:46:36 +0000

For restored period basin, bath and kitchen taps, look at Antiquetaps.com. For the butcher’s block you could try The Chopping Block Company. They can make a butcher’s block to order in the required size if their standard size is unsuitable.

I bought a card globe pendant lampshade from Habitat about 4-5 years ago. Habitat no longer stock the product. Is there another company that does a similar product?

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:54:35 +0000

Geoffrey Harris has an excellent range of smart yet simple lighting including design classics of the 50s and 60s.Pictured is the Bubble Lamp – Ball designed by George Nelson.

I live in a flat within a listed building in central London. The path to the front entrance to the building has original tiling leading to the front door. Most of the tiles are starting to chip away or fall apart and I would like to replace them. Can you point me in the right direction of a specialist?

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:49:37 +0000

Johnson Tiles are specialists in geometric Victorian tiles, which are part of Britain’s heritage. They were used originally to adorn medieval churches and monasteries, but can also be found on front paths all over the country. You could also try Craven Dunnill Jackfield, who are expert at manufacturing hand made encaustic and geometric floor tiles and can match existing or create new patterns.

I’m looking for a leather upholstered wood framed desk chair for our study. Where can I find a good range?

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:43:43 +0000

Leather Chairs of Bathspecialise in this type of chair. Also consider chair specialists Reed & Rackstraw and Curtis Green who can cover any of their models in leather.

I am looking for someone to re-gild my mirror.

admin — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:49:46 +0000

There are two types of gilding used on mirrors: oil gilding using a type of glue based on linseed oil with gold leaf laid on with a gilder’s knife, tip and cushion; or water gilding, a more intricate process which consists of applying a series of coats of gesso, layers of bole ( a refined clay in a variety of colours), on top of which gold leaf is applied, then a protective coat of ormolu. You might wish to see samples of each type before you decide how you would like your mirror to be refinished. Specialists in gilding include the following companies: E & A Wates, Bourlet, Titian Studios.